The Butterz family has been rapidly approaching the forefront of UK Bass Music for over a year now; filling the harddrives and haunts of electronic music aficionados with neon zip files bursting with technicolor splashes of grime and day-glo dubstep. With the black-and-yellow clad stable moving ahead with club nights, more releases and a general air of dominance, their leadership of this particular corner of the scene seems certain. I caught up with Elijah, 50% of the Butterz leadership, to discuss the clamourous rise to fame the influential grime stable has enjoyed, and ultimately where -or who – next?
For the benefit of the minority as-yet unfamiliar with the Butterz fraternity, the label is born out of a love for grime nearly a decade old – chiefly from Elijah’s recognition that within the grime scene, “not enough people were actively releasing their music professionally”. Having hosted his own hugely popular grime show with partner-in-crime Skilliam on Rinse.Fm since April 2009, Butterz was born as a label less than a year later.
With a stable boasting releases from the likes of Royal-T, Mr. Mitch, Terror Danjah and Swindle – as well as instantly recognisable MC’s like P-Money and Trim – the surprisingly young label has already amassed a fearsome repertoire of hits. So what does it take to join this elite band of both established and rising producers? Elijah explains that it’s a close-knit affair.
“Nearly everything has been specifically put together for us. We get through a lot of music on the radio so it’s always a balance between what’s getting the best feedback and what we are feeling. Most of the people that The label’s constant proximity to its artists has resulted in a constant striving for quality. “With some of the tracks we have released we have had like ten versions until we get it as close to ‘perfect’ as we can. I think the variety in terms of releases you can get from us gives us the edge; from 8 min instrumentals to laid back vocals to club bangers. We’re just really pushing the boat out with everything.” Just don’t ask which one of these sounds marks the proudest moment for Butterz, as, in Elijah’s words – “It’ss like asking you which one of your children you love the most.”
And what parent wouldn’t be proud of the likes of TRC’s ‘Oo Aa Ee’, Terror Danjah’s ‘BiPolar’ or Swindle’s ‘Mood Swings’ ? The label has a unique knack for permeating the changing genome of UK Bass Music with unbridled originality. Butterz draws much of it’s strength from it’s grassroots approach. “I think the 6 years of being a customer first make a big difference, a lot of people still in the scene now are the people that helped shape it. Skilliam and I do things that I would have wanted as a fan back in the day, and use that to try and shape it now.”
The approach of any fan turned label boss will naturally extend beyond releases and radio and on towards the raves; something that Butterz recently achieved with their rapturous party at Cable, co-hosted with Terror Danjah’s Hardrive imprint. “It was the highlight of my DJ career and running the label so far”, Elijah rightfully enthuses, “Having the sets up less than 24 hours afterwards for everyone to download was wicked too, so we got to share the vibes with people around the world that are into what we do. Expanding the events and club takeovers across the country and Europe is important to us, so people in different places get the energy we brought to Cable on the weekend. Also, I think it’s the first time a lot of people could recognise what each different act on the roster is bringing to the table. Royal-T, Terror Danjah, Swindle, Champion and Skilliam and I all have different ways of doing it – but we’re all getting the same results.”
The current state of electronic music however, elicits a less enthusiastic response from the Butterz magnate.
“I don’t get excited about much out there to be honest. Most of the time I go out and like the music I’m hearing, but I’m not actually enjoying myself. We went nearly over the top doing mad stuff for the Butterz raves so that people have an actual sick time rather than just coming out and hearing ‘good music’. If more people made their tunes smiling that might make a difference. People are making music for clubs – but not for parties.”
If the joy of being lost in the moment is indeed being forgotten in a whirlwind of elitism and chin-stroking, Butterz certainly seeks to restore that party atmosphere to electronic music. What’s more however, is how it strives to inspire, not exclude.
“I was out the other day with Skilliam and a 17 year old kid from my area said that we are a “big influence” - it was really humbling. I thought, the first time he goes raving it may be to a Butterz event. It has to be the best thing ever, making him motivated to continue that culture, rather than just accepting raving as going to a club in a shirt and shoes and listening to R’n'B and hip hop hits from the last 20 years. That shit is dry. I never thought of things like that before until he said that.”
Though only a relatively new label themselves, Elijah already seems prepared to pass the torch to anyone talented enough to take it from Butterz – the man behind the black and yellow is driven to continue the proud tradition he has immersed himself in, which – given the finger-pointing aimed at Grime by it’s detractors in the wake of London’s ugly few days of rioting, is inspiring. “Its just youth culture. Nothing to do with music in short. Until the government recognise underground music as a social good, that battle will always be there. The youth have been getting a lot of bad press lately, but I think what Butterz started isn’t in the end what Butterz will finish; some whizz-kid out of nowhere will be the one to take shit to the next level. Whether it is with us or inspired by us, it would be amazing if that happens. They may be already among us, or they may be 14 years old downloading the Elijah & Skilliam podcast first thing on a Friday morning and listening to it on their way to school, coming home and making beats that will all blow our minds in the next couple of years. That shit excites me – it literally could be just around the corner.”
In true Butterz style the sets from their August 13th club night are available here – http://butterz.tv/
See for yourself what the fuss was about here
Pick up the most recent Butterz Release – ‘I Am’ by Trim – here
Some YouTube Videos to end on:
